“That's it, I'm done,” Kurt said, smiling at Blaine. He had finished the mopping, cleaning, and feeding of all the dogs in his area. Blaine had kept him company, going back every once in a while to pet Sandy and Ranger and talk to them.

“The Pound closes in about ten minutes. I need to go get some papers filed, then they lock up,” Kurt said.

“Yeah, I know....it's going to be lonely without my pals tonight,” Blaine said. He gave Kurt a wan smile, more sadness than joy.

Kurt hurried through the small amount of desk work and was walking out to his Navigator just as Blaine was walking down the long road back to town. The wind had picked up again and Blaine hugged his coat tighter around his shoulders to try and keep warm on the way back. He wished he had a hat. He could get back to his box house in just about an hour.

“Hey, you need a lift?” Kurt asked, pulling up beside Blaine and lowering his window.

“You going into Lima?” Blaine asked.

“Yeah. Hop in,” Kurt offered. Blaine was dead tired. He hadn't eaten all day and the long walk was not something he was looking forward to in the cold. He nodded his head and got into the SUV beside Kurt, thanking him for the ride.

They were silent for a few minutes, then started up talking just like they'd known each other a long time.

“Do you have the money to get your dogs out?” Kurt asked, hesitant to ask but he really wanted to know.

“No. I am trying to raise it – but I can't seem to get a job,” he said.

“Won't your folks help?” Kurt asked.

“Ah...they aren't in a position to help me right now,” Blaine said, hesitant to say anything.

“I'm sorry. That's the worst break. I wish I could help,” Kurt sighed. He hated the Pound.

“I'm trying to get it...I do have about $90 now, but not much way to get more. I busk in the park every day and sometimes I get a generous person to leave a tip. I have been applying to anywhere I can to get a job, but I don't have many options and the worst thing...” Blaine stopped and took a shaky breath. He didn't want Kurt to hear the sob in his voice. He couldn't tell anyone that he was homeless and trying to repay thousands that he'd lost through carelessness.

“Blaine? Are you okay?” Kurt asked, glancing at the silent boy and seeing that he was crying.

“Hey, now...” Kurt started, then pulled into a parking lot.

“Oh...you want me to get out? I'm sorry. I didn't mean to offend you, really,” Blaine apologized. “I guess I'm just a mess. I miss my dogs and I'm terrified they will be killed. I can't stop crying over it like a little baby. I guess it's true that gay boys are too emotional. So stereotype...” he sobbed, then grit his teeth and made himself sit up straight and start to turn to get out of the vehicle.

“Oh, no...Blaine, no!” Kurt reached over and touched Blaine's arm. The boy stopped and looked at Kurt, his brown eyes filled with tears.

“I just needed something. Stay here out of the wind and I'll be right back. I promise,” Kurt said, his voice getting higher. Blaine nodded and looked down at his lap. He had really embarrassed himself in front of his new friend.

Kurt was back out in a few minutes, two large cups in his hands. He got back in his SUV and handed one cup to Blaine.

“I though you might need something to get warm. I didn't know your coffee order, so I got us both hot chocolate,” Kurt smiled.

Blaine accepted the cup, his fingers trembling as he brought the rich smelling liquid to his lips. He took one tiny sip, savoring each drop. It had been over a month since he'd had coffee or any other warm drink, but this was delicious. Glorious. This was heaven in a cup.

“Thank you, Kurt, this is sooo good! The first time I've had something hot in way too long.” Blaine smiled wider and settled down to the seat and leaned back. It was really warm in the Navigator.

Kurt drove to the park where Blaine directed him and they sat and talked for almost an hour. Blaine was vague about where he lived and some other things. He didn't want to lie to Kurt – who was fast becoming his best friend in Lima – but he just could not tell him everything. He couldn't be found out and sent back to Columbus in disgrace.

He finished his hot chocolate and smiled at Kurt.

“Thanks for the drink and the ride. I'll just get out here, it's close to home,” he said, opening the door.

“What...do you live in the park? Is this a Star Trek movie?' he joked.

Blaine winked at him and walked quickly away, around the park until he heard Kurt's Navigator leave. Then he headed back to his cold, damp, lonely box under the bridge.

KURT

The next week, Kurt was beside himself with a new worry. He'd seen Blaine every time he went to work at the Pound. Every day Blaine was there, sitting on the cement floor of the holding area's biggest pen. Now that he knew where the equipment was, Blaine cleaned the pen before Kurt got there.

He was sitting with Ranger - who was asleep, head on Blaine's leg, and Sandy in his lap. It had passed the ten day deadline for Blaine to claim the animals and it was now five days before the last day for them to be adopted.

Kurt didn't have a good feeling about this. He knew almost no one came to look for a dog to adopt at the Pound. No, the Animal Shelter across town had cute dogs, groomed and trained sometimes. They had a visiting room, brightly painted murals on the walls, and carpeted floors. They were near the city center and they had a big advertising campaign. The Pound was just an institutionalized place to hold unwanted dogs before killing them.

After work, Kurt once again asked Blaine if he wanted a ride back into town.

Kurt had learned that Blaine loved hot chocolate and he got them some each day he drove. Blaine had offered to buy several times, but Kurt told him to save the money for the dogs. Today was colder than it had been all week. Blaine shivered when Kurt opened the door of the car to get the hot chocolate.

They talked for a time while parked at the edge of the park, watching the strong wind blow the leaves from the trees. Blaine shivered just thinking about how cold he was going to be tonight. He thought he could smell snow in the air. He already felt a cold coming on, but he couldn't do anything about it.

“Well, time to go. I want you to know how much I appreciate you giving me a ride every day, Kurt. It sure saves on shoe leather and I enjoy your company,” Blaine smiled.

“I enjoy yours, too. Listen, I wanted to talk to you for just another minute,” Kurt said and Blaine nodded, his apprehension twisting his empty stomach.

“I...well, I sometimes work for my dad, he owns a tire and lube shop. I had saved about $160 and I want you to have it to help with getting Sandy and Ranger back. Now, I know what you're going to say – that you don't want charity. Well, this isn't charity. This is a loan. I trust you, Blaine, and I don't want you to lose your dogs. So don't say anything, just take the money and maybe you can get one of them out?”

Blaine couldn't stop his tears. He tried to thank Kurt, but he couldn't articulate a single word. He finally just leaned over the console and put his arms around Kurt, hugging him tightly, and then got out of the Navigator. He walked away, tripping a little as he tried to walk with the tears running down his face.

Now he was faced with something he hadn't even thought about. He had the means to save one of his dogs – but which one? He suddenly had all the sympathy in the world for Sophie and her Choice.

Kurt sat in his SUV for a while, watching as Blaine walked away. He knew something was going on with his new friend. He was so full of conflicting things – he spoke and held himself in a well-bred manner that didn't really fit with the old work clothes and dirty skin. It made no sense. Had his family come on hard times like Sam's family had? Blaine never spoke about anything personal, with the exception of the dogs.

Kurt decided he needed to find out. At the risk of Blaine getting very angry, Kurt followed him. He stayed a ways back, but with the leaves gone from the trees, he could see Blaine quite a ways off. He saw him walking down by the river, then disappear under the bridge. Kurt got to the edge of an embankment in just enough time to see his friend crawl into a large cardboard box and shut the flaps.

“Oh. Oh, my stars...” Kurt said and turned to make his way back to his SUV. He sat in the Navigator for a while, trying to calm himself down and to decide what to do. He finally noticed the street lights turn on and he headed for home and his dad.

~

“Hey, Kurt! You're late tonight. Was there a rehearsal?” Burt asked, coming out of the kitchen when he heard Kurt close the front door. He was met with his weeping son – who ran to his dad and put his arms around him, hugging him tightly.

“I love you, Dad,” was all he said.

“Hey now, son. What's wrong? Are those bullies back at it?” Burt asked, concern wrinkling his brow as he tried to pull back to see Kurt's face.

“No, Dad...it's...my friend, Blaine...and his dogs...” Kurt said with shaky voice.

“Let's go sit down and get some supper, okay? You can tell me all about it,” Burt said, guiding his son into the dining room and setting him down with a bowl of hot soup and garlic bread.

Kurt told his dad everything about the dogs that had come in, Sandy and Ranger, and about Blaine coming to visit them every day after looking for a job and busking for tips.

Burt asked questions – about the rules of the Pound and the fines that needed to be paid for the boy to get his dogs back. He asked about his family and why they hadn't helped.

“Oh, Dad...I wondered that myself. I thought it was maybe like Sam's situation. It isn't exactly. I don't know the particulars, Blaine won't say, but I followed him home tonight. Oh my god, Dad...he's living in a cardboard box under the bridge!” Kurt practically shouted.

“What?”

“Yeah. I saw him. He didn't see me, but I saw him climb into the box when I dropped him off. Dad, I have to do something,” Kurt started sobbing again.

Burt's heart hurt for his son. Kurt had such a kind heart and for a long time Burt had worried that the bullying had changed him. Here was proof that his sweet little boy was living on in his teenage son. He had more hope than ever now that Kurt would grow into a kind, caring adult that Burt and Elizabeth had always wanted.

“Hey, now. You know I'll do what I can to help. We can go over there and ask him to come home with us, Kurt. I can't rest knowing a boy is sleeping in a box by the river. It feels like snow tonight, we have to hurry. Get your coat.”

“What? Do you mean now?” Kurt asked, his eyes wide as he realized his father meant that exact thing.

“Yes, now. I can't let that go on and not do anything about it, Kurt. Let's go.”

~

“It's down here...” Kurt said quietly as he made his way down the embankment to the river and walked along a recently made path that led under the bridge.

Burt crashed through some underbrush, regaining his footing as he pulled his collar up farther around his neck in the freezing wind.

“Blaine?” Kurt called and heard a rustling of leaves as the boy crawled out of his box.

“Kurt? What are you doing...?” he asked, his eyes sleepy. He came out of his box, shivering in the cold. He stared at his friend with a look of betrayal, then over to the man standing behind him.

“Blaine, this is my father, Burt Hummel,” Kurt started and Blaine held out his hand to shake automatically.

“Good to meet you, sir. I'm Blaine An....ah, my name is Blaine.”

“Good to meet you, too, Blaine,” Burt said and shook the young man's hand. He continued to stare for a few minutes, not seeing much in the wan light of the flashlight.

“Why are you here, though?” Blaine asked, ignoring the strange circumstances of his place of residence.

Burt stepped forward, touching Blaine on the shoulder. He didn't want the skittish boy to turn and run.

“Well, son, Kurt has told me a bit about your story and I came to tell you... or I guess to ask you if you'll come home with us and have some supper?” Burt asked, not wanting to debate the boy's entire circumstance on this windy river bank in the face of an oncoming storm.

“Blaine...” Kurt said when the boy seemed hesitant. “Please, Blaine. There is a storm coming and you need to be in somewhere safe and warm. We couldn't sleep knowing you're out here.”

Blaine blushed, ashamed that he'd caused so much strife for his friend and the boy's father.

“Please.”

“Okay, maybe just for tonight,” Blaine agreed reluctantly. He could tell that the Hummel men were not going to let this go and he didn't want them to stand here in the freezing wind while he argued. He could always slip away later.

~

“You can take a shower if you like and – do you have any clean clothes?” Kurt asked.

“Ah, no. Just another pair of jeans and two shirts, but they haven't been washed...” Blaine said, shame on his face. He should have found a way to wash them. He sometimes was able to wash his face and take a bit of a sponge bath in the rest room of the small grocery, but it wasn't a place to wash his clothes.

“Well, then I can loan you some sweats while we wash your clothes,” Kurt said with finality. He waited while Blaine took off his clothes and got into the robe Kurt had loaned him, then opened the bathroom door to hand his laundry to Kurt and take the small pile of sweats he was handed.

“Kurt, you are so kind, you and your dad. Thank you.”

“It isn't anything that any person wouldn't do, Blaine. It's just basic human kindness,” Kurt smiled, but Blaine knew it was more. These were good people and he was grateful. He just wondered how welcome he would be when he told them the whole story.

Burt smiled as Kurt and Blaine walked into the dining room.

“Well, Blaine. You look like you feel better? Warmer at least. Here, sit down and have some soup,” Burt said, a warm smile on his face. He had some hard truths to go over with this young man but he wanted him to at least have a full belly when they started. The kid looked half-starved.

“Oh, this is wonderful, thank you,” he complemented the Hummel men. The soup was homemade, a rich, thick chicken broth with pieces of juicy meat and fat noodles swimming in it. He finished the first bowl in record time in spite of trying not to gobble it down. He had been taught manners and slurping his soup was not gentlemanly.

Burt didn't even ask if he wanted more, he just refilled the bowl to the brim and waited while Blaine ate it.

“Okay, kid. I know you might not think this is any of my business, but you're wrong. Any kid your age that is on his own is everyone's business. So spill, what brought you to the riverbank to live in a cardboard box?” Burt was anything but subtle.

“Ah, well...it's a long story. I just don't have a home and I was trying to get back on my feet. I've been trying to find a job – I wasn't looking for a handout, sir,” Blaine said in a shaky voice. He felt better having some food in his empty belly, but he was still shy of telling what he'd done to put himself in this condition.

“Where are your folks? I know they wouldn't want their son out on his own. What happened to you?” Burt asked again. He had all the time in the world and he was pretty sure he could get to the bottom of this. Kurt had mentioned that Blaine was gay and Burt was thinking it might have something to do with that, but he wasn't going to start with that. The kid was skittish enough as it was.

“You know I can't let you live in a box on the riverbank, don't you Blaine?” Burt said, his eyes kind as he saw the boy's struggle.

Blaine looked down at the table and closed his eyes.

“Yes, sir.”

“Blaine, you can call me 'Burt'. Okay?”

“Yes, Burt.”

“You can stay in the guest room tonight and we can start to work on getting you out of this mess you've gotten yourself into tomorrow,” Burt offered, seeing the kid needed a good night's sleep.

“Dad, can we talk about the dogs?” Kurt asked. He knew that was Blaine's number one priority and he thought if they could find a way to save them...

“Okay. Kurt has told me about your dogs. Am I right in guessing you found these dogs when you started living al fresco?” Burt asked.

“Yes. I was so alone...and Sandy killed a rat that was trying to steal my dinner...” Blaine said, tears in his eyes thinking about the dogs. He was still struggling with which he would save if he had enough money.

“Dad, we can put the dogs in the yard at the shop, can't we? They would be safe there until Blaine is back on his feet,” Kurt said with enthusiasm.

“That could be considered, Kurt. I think there are a few things we need to do first, though...” Burt said, not wanting their discussion to deviate too far from the central problem – finding out what was really going on with Blaine. If that was his real name.

“I only have four days before they...before they kill my friends,” Blaine said, his voice broken. He put his head down in his arms on the table and tried his very best not to start crying again.

Kurt got up and sat in the chair next to Blaine, putting an arm around his shoulders to support him. Burt watched as his son showed extraordinary kindness to another person in much the way his mother had always done. It was days like this that Burt missed Elizabeth the most. He blinked back a few tears of his own, wiped his face and blew his nose with his handkerchief before getting back to the matter at hand.

“Okay, what do we need to do first?” he asked, wanting the boys to come up with a plan themselves. They were on the edge of manhood and needed to learn that life was not always fair, they they had to face it and find their own answers.

“I need to get back out there and find a job,” Blaine said. “Even if I can't save my dogs, I have obligations and I've let this get in the way of my goals,” he said, almost to himself. Burt could see he was blaming himself for something and was trying to weigh the obligation with the lives of the dogs. It was a hard thing, he could tell, but the boy wasn't trying to shuffle it off on anyone else. He was facing his hard decisions himself.

“What do you know about cars?” Burt asked.

“Not a lot, but I did rebuild a classic car with my dad last summer,” Blaine brightened up. His dad had surprised him with the car for his birthday and they had worked all summer on restoring it. Blaine suspected it was an attempt on his dad's part to make him straight, but he enjoyed doing the work and being with his dad just the same.

“What kind of car?” Burt asked.

“It was a 1957 Chevy BelAir,” Blaine smiled. The car was in his garage at home, shiny and new looking and ready for him to drive off to college. His face fell. If he ever went to college..

Burt looked at Blaine, considering the small boy and wondering how hard he could work. The kid had a lot of determination, so maybe?

“I'm looking for someone to work in my garage. It isn't anything glamorous – just inventory and keeping the shop clean. You won't be doing anything like rebuilding carburetors, just changing tires maybe,: Burt offered. “You interested in that?”

“Yes, sir! I can work hard, Mr. Hummel, just let me show you!” Blaine shouted, excited to be given a chance.

“You can come in Tuesday morning and I'll get you acquainted with the shop,” Burt said, holding out his hand and shaking on the deal. The kid was small but he had some muscle. Burt had the feeling he would be able to do the job just fine.

“It's late and I have work to do in the morning. You guys get some sleep, too. There's a patio to clean and get ready for winter, Kurt,” Burt said, getting up from his place at the table. He scooped up the empty soup bowl from the table and put it in the dishwasher before he made his way to his bed upstairs.